God might as easily have provided them with flesh as with manna, but a restriction was placed upon them for their good. It was His purpose to supply them with food better suited to their wants than the feverish diet to which many had become accustomed in Egypt. The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state, that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man--the fruits of the earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden. It was for this reason that the Israelites had been deprived, in a great measure, of animal food.

Gud kunne lige så let have skaffet dem kød som manna, men det var til deres eget bedste, at der blev foretaget indskrænkninger i deres kost. Han ville give dem en kost, der passede bedre til deres behov end den pirrende føde, som mange var blevet vant til i Ægypten. Deres forvænte smag skulle ændres og gøres mere naturlig, så de kunne lære at sætte pris på den føde, menneskene fik fra begyndelsen, nemlig jordens frugter, som Gud gav Adam og Eva i Edens have. Det var grunden til, at israelitterne ikke havde fået animalsk føde så længe.